About Jesus  -  Steve Sweetman

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The Ultimate Purchase

 

The cross of Christ is a multifaceted historic event that can be viewed from various vantage points of understanding, all of which help illuminate the full meaning of Jesus' death.  To the degree, therefore, we understand all of what transpired on the cross will be the degree to which we appreciate not only Jesus' death but Jesus Himself.    

 

One vantage point of understanding Jesus' death in New Testament terms is seen through the lens of a purchase.  1 Peter 1:18 and 19 say:

 

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ ..."

 

Our English word "redeemed" in Peter's statement is translated from the Greek word "lytroo."  In the first century Greek speaking world this word was commonly used in reference to purchasing the freedom of a slave with a payment.  In reference to Jesus this Greek word denotes the purchase of our freedom from the bondage of an empty life by His blood, something the Apostle Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20.

 

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies."

 

Paul informs us that a person in whom the Holy Spirit lives does not belong to himself.  He belongs to Jesus.  To belong to another is disgustingly offensive in our western-world culture of independent individualism.  Nevertheless, Jesus has bought the rights to our lives with His blood, and for that reason the New Testament views Christians as servants of Jesus.         

 

The verb "were bought" in the phrase "you were bought with a price" is a Greek aorist passive indicative verb.  Aorist means that in one specific moment of time, which I believe to be when Jesus said "it is finished," the process of purchasing our lives was completed.  Passive means that we had absolutely no part in this transaction other than being its recipients.  Indicative means the purchase of our lives, beyond any shadow of a doubt, was a certain historic fact.    

 

The fact Jesus has paid the price to own us must never be omitted from the gospel we preach.  Jesus is not only the Christ who saves us: He is the Lord who owns us.  He has released us from a life of uselessness into a life of usefulness.  We have been purchased with the very human life of Jesus.  This is the ultimate purchase of all-time.   

 

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